Thoughts on All Watership Down Adaptions
Which is my favorite,which is my least favorite? Here are my thoughts on the Watership Down adaptions
Book
I,like most other fans of Watership Down,find the novel to be the best form of Watership Down.
Pros:The book has no pictures,which allows me to let my imagination run wild and create a scenario for what's happening in the book.The story makes its charcters well-rounded and very identifiable,I was able to find out who was who after reading about their personalitites,like Bigwig being a tough but golden-hearted rabbit,and Woundwort being a ruler with an iron fist(or in this case, iron paw.)Dandelion's stories also pop up every now and then,providing a good distraction from the original story to just read what Dandelion is saying.
Cons:None
Final Verdict:Very good book that is definitley worth a read or two
Overall rating:10/10
Pros:The book has no pictures,which allows me to let my imagination run wild and create a scenario for what's happening in the book.The story makes its charcters well-rounded and very identifiable,I was able to find out who was who after reading about their personalitites,like Bigwig being a tough but golden-hearted rabbit,and Woundwort being a ruler with an iron fist(or in this case, iron paw.)Dandelion's stories also pop up every now and then,providing a good distraction from the original story to just read what Dandelion is saying.
Cons:None
Final Verdict:Very good book that is definitley worth a read or two
Overall rating:10/10
Film
The film is my second favorite adaption.Here is why:
Pros:The film takes full advantage of the fact that it's animated and gives us beautifully animated fight scenes with very heavy bloodshed,this would be VERY hard to do that with real rabbits. The story is just as good as the book,I can never get tired of watching it,no matter how many times I do,especially when Woundwort is onscreen.It takes a pace of a light hearted nature and horror,a great mix for a film based off a really adult novel.The Bright eyes scene where Fiver goes to find the supposedly dead Hazel,it's a wonderful song,going great with the animation in this part.The rabbits look INCREDIBLEY realistic,that's a huge plus, especially when you consider the fact that it's TRADITONALLY animated!
Cons:The Efrafans look WAY too similar,I can hardly make out who they are,and some aren't even given names.Woundwort is given no backstory.After recently watching the film again,I found Kehaar INCREDIBLY annoying and just wanted him to shut up.
Final Verdict:A dark and beautiful film that anyone brave enough should watch
Overall Rating:9/10
Pros:The film takes full advantage of the fact that it's animated and gives us beautifully animated fight scenes with very heavy bloodshed,this would be VERY hard to do that with real rabbits. The story is just as good as the book,I can never get tired of watching it,no matter how many times I do,especially when Woundwort is onscreen.It takes a pace of a light hearted nature and horror,a great mix for a film based off a really adult novel.The Bright eyes scene where Fiver goes to find the supposedly dead Hazel,it's a wonderful song,going great with the animation in this part.The rabbits look INCREDIBLEY realistic,that's a huge plus, especially when you consider the fact that it's TRADITONALLY animated!
Cons:The Efrafans look WAY too similar,I can hardly make out who they are,and some aren't even given names.Woundwort is given no backstory.After recently watching the film again,I found Kehaar INCREDIBLY annoying and just wanted him to shut up.
Final Verdict:A dark and beautiful film that anyone brave enough should watch
Overall Rating:9/10
TV Series
The TV series,I find is the worst Watership Down adpation out of the thee,but do I dislike it? No. Do I think there are some interesting parts?Absolutley,here's what I think about it.
Pros:Dandelion.They still keep the dark stuff in this series,just not as dark as the film or novel.The animation is pretty good for when the series was brought out(1999).I think Primrose is a better mate for Hazel than Hyzenthlay.The addition of Hawkbit being Dandelion's best friend(or being in the series at all since he wasn't in the film) allow the series to have some very funny moments like this line in Season 3:Dandelion-What if we go to sleep,and we disappear from existence completley?Hawkbit-You do realize that makes no sense?While others complain about Blackberry being female,persoanlly,I think it was a change for the better.Fiver now rhymes whenever he has a vision,and I personally enjoy that.Unlike the film,Kehaar isn't annoying at all,in fact, I think he's one one of the funniest characters,after Hawkbit and Dandelion of course.
Cons:While there is some dark stuff in the series,it's not as dark as the film,they hardly even show blood half the series.The series finale was very underwhelming,especially after seeing the first episode of season 3.The rabbits don't look very realistic as opposed to their film counterparts.
Final Verdict: A very good little series,but terrible compared to the
film.
Overall rating:8.5/10
Pros:Dandelion.They still keep the dark stuff in this series,just not as dark as the film or novel.The animation is pretty good for when the series was brought out(1999).I think Primrose is a better mate for Hazel than Hyzenthlay.The addition of Hawkbit being Dandelion's best friend(or being in the series at all since he wasn't in the film) allow the series to have some very funny moments like this line in Season 3:Dandelion-What if we go to sleep,and we disappear from existence completley?Hawkbit-You do realize that makes no sense?While others complain about Blackberry being female,persoanlly,I think it was a change for the better.Fiver now rhymes whenever he has a vision,and I personally enjoy that.Unlike the film,Kehaar isn't annoying at all,in fact, I think he's one one of the funniest characters,after Hawkbit and Dandelion of course.
Cons:While there is some dark stuff in the series,it's not as dark as the film,they hardly even show blood half the series.The series finale was very underwhelming,especially after seeing the first episode of season 3.The rabbits don't look very realistic as opposed to their film counterparts.
Final Verdict: A very good little series,but terrible compared to the
film.
Overall rating:8.5/10